Father

(Posted by Donna B. Nielsen on her blog "Connections.")

"Throughout the silent years Jesus was learning the meaning of family life. The name for God which came most naturally to the lips of Jesus was Father; and the very use of that word is itself a very beautiful compliment to Joseph. It was said of Martin Luther that he hesitated to pray the Lord’s Prayer and to say “Our Father,” because his own father had been so stern, so unbending, so unsympathetic that the word “father” was not a word which he loved. To Jesus the name “father” was the most natural and the most precious name for God, and it was in the home at Nazareth that he must have learned the meaning of that word."

Reading of Martin Luther's harsh negative experience with the word "Father" made me stop and ponder my own experience with the word. If anyone should have a negative connotation of the word I should. I never knew my "real father" as I always called him in my mind. He left us before I turned two years old. The only thing I ever knew about him was my grandmother's comment when my brother or I did something wrong, "You are just like your dirty rotten, no-good father!" (I don't think she liked him)

Well that made a kid feel good. But, I never actually called anyone father, the word was not in my vocabulary. I called my step-father Jim. And, that word "Jim" makes me flinch like Martin Luther trying to say "Our Father." The word father to me has ALWAYS meant my Father in Heaven. I heard about Him the first time when I was ten years old hiding behind the old wood stove when the missionaries came to teach Jim. I felt the spirit bear witness to me that these kind, gentle, stake missionaries were telling the truth! I received a testimony of the gospel that has never left and which has sustained me all the days of my life since then. (That was nearly fifty years ago!)

Donna's post sent me to Psalms 68:6, but it was verse 5 that caught my attention: "A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation." Heavenly Father TRULY always was and is my Father! The name is sacred and precious and fills me with warmth, and love. I have a lifetime of memories of peace and comfort in times of trial, and memories of gratitude and love for more blessings than I can contain! God lives! And, He is truly our Father In Heaven!

Perspective

I listened to a talk by Robert Millet "God and Human Tragedy" from the August 18, 2003 BYU Education Week. He told the story of a man who, though he had season tickets, had to miss a BYU game so his wife recorded it. He eventually was able to watch the recording of this exciting game, but by then he knew they had won the game. Though it was an exciting, nail biting, close game, he watched it calmly. When a team member would fumble the ball or make other potentially disastrous mistakes, he could calmly watch on because he already KNEW the outcome.

As we strengthen our faith we can KNOW the outcome of things too. We know that Jesus Christ WILL win! The world will be free of sin and depravity in a coming day! I want you to know that Heavenly Father has also born a personal witness to me periodically throughout my life when my world seemed a dark and forbidding place, that things in my small world would be okay too! I've lived long enough to know that things ALWAYS get better if we are doing all that we can to live according to our knowledge and testimony of our Savior and His restored gospel!

What an amazing June we had. Our Eric was born, Julie & Aubrie came from Philadelphia and we had such a wonderful, wonderful visit! And, we had a surprise birthday party for Ron's 60th birthday! All this in the space of a couple of weeks. Busy, busy--- fun, fun summer! We miss Julie and Aubrie so much. They just have to get a job closer to home after Brent finishes school.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Little Starfish

This article from Meridian Magazine is a testimony to me that all of us have value and purpose in life and that every seemingly small thing we do DOES count!
http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/090701life.html#top

The Real Face of Evil Isn't Pretty

I love Donna Nielsen's blog: Connections. This morning as I read her article on Beelzebub, I thought how our children need to be taught about this. The world paints evil as so attractive, appealing and funny. The use of crude language is so common. It disturbs me that so many of our children's animated movies are filled with "potty humor", which causes the audience to roar with laughter. It's not funny, and this article helps explain why I have always been so uncomfortable with it.



Beelzebub

And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria , and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire ofBaalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. 2 Kings 1:2



When the faithless Jewish leaders accused Christ of performing his miracles by the power of Beelzebub [also a code word for Satan], I wondered about their accusation. Who was "the god of Ekron" with that name? What I learned when I did some research was revolting. According to one account, bowel movements were associated with worship of this deity. Don't ask. There was more, none of it suitable for this forum. But here's a bit of background that is useful.



Rick Renner tells us, "The name Beelzebub was initially used by the Philistines of the Old Testament to describe the god of Ekron. It literally meant, “lord of the flies” (2 Kings 1:2-6). Originally, it was spelled Baalzebub. As time progressed, the Jews altered Baalzebub to Beelzebub, which added an even dimmer idea to this particular name of the devil. The new name (Beelzebub) now meant, “lord of the dunghill,” or “lord of the manure.”



Two powerful and important images of Satan are presented in these two names. First of all, he is presented asBaalzebub, the “lord of the flies.” This is clearly the picture of Satan masquerading himself as the lord of demon spirits.



Secondly, he is presented as Beelzebub, the “lord of the dunghill.” By adding this twist to this name of Satan, the Jews told us something very important about the devil. Both he and his evil spirits, like nasty, dirty flies, are attracted to “dunghills” or environments where rotting, stinking, carnality pervades. This is the environment where Satan thrives best."

Validation

What Was I Saying?

On our Draper Temple shift on Fridays mornings we are seriously short handed. We need thirty-three sisters to fully staff that shift and we only have twenty-four, but with five trainee's we are getting closer. As coordinator's most of the time we feel like we are putting our fingers in dikes. We put a stop in one and another breaks out. The time flies and it can be a little stressful at times. The wonderful thing is that we are working at the temple where everyone is so nice, and for the most part understanding! I lLOVE being there! As I was pondering on these things I had a thought, "The Lord has a certain sense of humor, just as He sends nineteen-year-old, inexperienced kids on missions, he calls old people, who have lost part of their minds and bodies to work in the temple, and in spite of our weaknesses it seems to work!" We all get tired and we forget things so often we have to laugh at ourselves.

I told another sister this and she quipped, "I was a mission president's wife and we decided the Lord sends nineteen-year-olds on missions so their parents won't kill them. Maybe He sends us to the temple because it's payback time for our kids and we might be driving them crazy about now!"

Styles of Leadership

Ron has always taught our children a wonderful concept about leadership. He heard somewhere that there are two ways to move a string---you can push it or pull it. Pushing is hard and frustrating work, especially when the person or persons you are trying to push dig their heels in. Most people don't like to be forced, and we all know whose plan that was. In contrast I have thought of the Saviors wonderful example. He eagerly climbs the summit of possibilities, and though He has already ascended to the top he unselfishly turns and beckons to us "Come Follow Me" but He doesn't just say come, He reaches down to give us a hand up. Pulling the string always reminds me of Greg Olsen's beautiful art piece "Be Not Afraid" I love this picture and I love the Savior.

That is also why I love Ron so much. He isn't perfect yet but I want you to know that everyone who has ever worked with him or for him has proclaimed to me that he is the nicest man they have ever worked for and I agree! Being nice to our fellow workers, especially the ones we have stewardship over whether in the church, on the job, or at home, inspires loyalty and a desire to please. Their cooperation and productivity soar much higher and hey, everyone is happier and has more fun along the way!

"The Last Waltz" vs. "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"

I read a book review on Meridian Magazine a couple of months ago on the book “The Last Waltz” by G.G. Vandagriff. I was intrigued because I learned that she is of Russian German descent and wondered if there might be a genealogical connection perhaps to my father’s people.

I never start a book without first turning to the last page about the author. I know it’s considered weird, but I have always been wary of whom I let sing or read to me. I grew up in a home of constant contention and probably as soon as I could read I found solace in books. They were so often my only, and always my best friends! The “Little Princess,” “Secret Garden,” “Pollyanna,” “Wizard of Oz,” and later “Anne of Green Gables,” “Girl of the Limberlost” and other such sentimental books (in today’s vernacular “cheesy” or “sappy”) were such sweet escape. But, as soon as I was old enough to be assigned reading and found that so much of it could depress or frighten me (I’d had enough of that in real life) I learned to be wary. I found and will always believe that “we are what we eat” both physically and spiritually! I guess that is why I just couldn’t and still don’t like the Beatles. Most people, my children especially, think I am pretty weird for this---a child of the 60’s who does NOT like the Beatles? Everyone I know still likes the Beatles! And hey, I remember watching their début on T.V. and I’ll admit that I thought their “bowl” haircuts were kind of cute and everyone I knew was swooning over them. But, I made the fatal mistake of reading about them. How could I ever trust immoral drug addicts to sing to me? I learned to keep my opinions to myself because in the 60’s you could be stoned for not liking the BEATLES! But I’m over 50 now so . . . It’s kind of like going to the grocery store without my makeup on---doesn’t matter because no one is looking anyway. But I digress. This blog post is not about the Beatles.

After reading about the author and checking out her website (http://www.ggvandagriff.com/) I read the book---all 591 pages of it! It is a sweeping saga of romance and war that frustrated me at times. The protagonist was a good, kind young woman who showed incredibly poor judgment in the beginning, with life-long consequences! I know my dear young people I’m being wary or weird again, but that’s why I can’t get into the Twilight Series. Bella’s dangerous naivety drives me CRAZY! I’m not very patient with that, considering I don’t even trust the Beatles. But, back to “The Last Waltz”---throughout this saga from World War I to the beginning of World War II, Amalia Faulhaber found herself torn between three men. You have no idea who she will end up with! Just when her life seems to be reaching a point of blissful happiness . . . well, with 591 pages you can imagine.

Though, at times, I felt the book was too long, it does move along. Being painfully ignorant of the history surrounding Europe during World War I, I found that I had to look up some of the geography, i.e. mainly Prussia and its relationship to Germany. But, if a book inspires me to further research well that’s a good thing! And, I learned some great lessons about politics. Lessons that, quite frankly, leave me with a chill as I watch the very foundations and principles of our own blessed nation being changed before our very eyes. It has been said that if we cannot learn from history we are destined to repeat it. For my grandchildren’s sake, I HOPE not.

Probably most readers will not be as frustrated with the protagonist in the beginning as I was, but in the end I found myself cheering her on, and the final third of the story really kept me turning the pages! This is definitely a must read!

Another Tender Mercy

My goodness, how much I get done by getting ready for the day EARLY! My back is sore but my heart is full! Each year we have tried to do at least one thing to improve our yard. This year I wanted to get the brick like edgers to finally do some nice edging around our grass and shrubs. Well, I can't complain because we did get a fence and I really am grateful for it. But, oh human nature, we long for that which we cannot have.
This recession is really getting to Ron's business. He is under so much stress. He works twice as hard for about half the money. It's hard to take a 50% cut in pay and we wonder where it will end, but oh, I'm so grateful we have an income and a deed to our home! As I was working in my flower garden I felt a little sad I couldn't have the nice manufactured edging as I pulled some weeds out of the makeshift rock edging I did in front of my porch. As I looked at the rock I realized I really do love the copper and granite and dark and blonde colors in it. In fact I intended to match those colors in edging. I got a sudden idea to gather more rock from my yard. Yes, we have the stoniest ground! I thought of the picturesque stones walls we saw in England and realized that people built them from the rocks they had to clear from their land to farm. They used what they had and it was charming. Well, I've spent the morning gathering rocks. Mostly little rocks. And, I've made an edging. The LORD provided the materials! As I worked I thought about how the rocks were like people, all sizes and shapes. Some plain, others colorful and beautiful. But together they make a fine edging. Most of them were living in obsurity, half buried, just waiting to be discovered and appreciated! At least I appreciate them!
May 5, 2009 (New Fence)
March 9, 2009 (Old Fence)

What a difference 2 months can make!